Red-necked keelback

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This snake is rear-fanged, so its venom is delivered through grooved teeth at the back of the upper jaw rather than through hollow front fangs. Its venom can cause internal bleeding, including bleeding in the brain, nausea, and blood clotting problems such as disseminated intravascular coagulation. In animal tests, the venom caused kidney failure.1

Hur farlig är den för människor?

After one fatal and several near-fatal envenomations, the snake was reclassified as dangerous. Most bites to people involve the front teeth and cause no harmful effects, but rare bites from the rear fangs can be lethal. Recent reports describe severe envenomation and organ failure, affecting the kidneys and liver, after even brief bites.1

Vad gör den när den är rädd?

When threatened, for example by being touched, it can burst its nuchal glands in the red neck, releasing stored toad toxins (bufotoxins) that cause fast heartbeat, drooling, convulsions and paralysis.1